by Lee McGuire / 11News

Houston's City Council has passed a water restriction plan that could someday take effect if Houston sinks into a summer drought.

Council member Melissa Noriega, who helped author the plan, cautioned that this plan is required by new state regulations and does not mean water restrictions are imminent.

Mayor Bill White recognized what Noriega was getting at. "Are you saying that somebody might mischaracterize what we're doing?" he asked.

"Is that possible?"

The proposed restrictions would place restrictions on lawn watering and car washing, for example, and allow for penalties if residents violated the watering bans.

According to the University of Nebraska, southeast Texas is drier than normal this year, with below-average rainfall. The University's "Drought Monitor" places Harris County in a "moderate" to "severe" drought, although forecasts indicate some rain could be on the way.

---